What Qualifies as a Dental Emergency?
Not every dental problem is an emergency, but some situations absolutely are. Knowing the difference helps you decide whether to seek emergency care or schedule a regular appointment.
True Emergencies Requiring Same-Day Care
- Severe tooth pain that doesn’t respond to over-the-counter pain relief
- Visible facial swelling or swelling that’s spreading
- Fever combined with tooth pain or mouth swelling
- Tooth completely knocked out (avulsed)
- Large piece of tooth broken off
- Tooth pushed into or out of its normal position
- Significant bleeding from the mouth that won’t stop
- Injury to the lips, tongue, or cheeks with heavy bleeding
- Visible abscess or pus drainage from the gum
- Child unable to open or close mouth normally
Urgent but Not True Emergencies
Some situations need attention within a day or two but aren’t life-threatening:
- Small chip or crack in a tooth with no pain
- Mild tooth sensitivity or slight pain
- Loose tooth that’s still partially attached
- Minor swelling that isn’t spreading
- Food stuck between teeth that causes discomfort
When to Call 911
In rare cases, a dental problem indicates a serious medical emergency. Call 911 immediately if your child has difficulty breathing or swallowing, cannot close their mouth or jaw, has severe facial trauma with bleeding that won’t stop, has signs of serious infection (high fever, severe swelling, confusion), or has been struck in the mouth with signs of head or neck injury.
Common Pediatric Dental Emergencies
Tooth pain in children is never normal and always indicates a problem. Severe pain suggests decay has reached the nerve, requiring pulp therapy or extraction. Mild pain might indicate early decay or sensitivity. Call us immediately. Dr. Matt can assess the problem and determine whether emergency treatment is needed or whether the situation can wait for a regular appointment.
Knocked-Out Teeth
If your child’s permanent tooth is completely knocked out, find the tooth immediately and rinse it gently with water but don’t scrub it. Try to reinsert it into the socket if possible. If you can’t reinsert it, place it in a cup of milk or the child’s saliva. Get to our office or an emergency dental facility as quickly as possible. Time is critical; teeth have the best chance of survival if reimplanted within 30 minutes.
Baby teeth that are knocked out generally aren’t reimplanted because of the risk to the developing permanent tooth underneath. Bring your child in so we can assess for other injuries and monitor the developing permanent tooth.
Broken or Chipped Teeth and Soft Tissue Injuries
A small chip with no pain can usually wait for a regular appointment. A large break that exposes the inner tooth structure needs urgent attention because exposed inner tooth is sensitive to temperature and bacteria can enter, causing infection. Bring any broken tooth fragments you find. Sometimes we can bond them back onto the tooth. If not, we can restore the tooth with a filling or crown.
Cuts or tears to the lips, tongue, cheeks, or gums need evaluation. Minor cuts often heal fine on their own. Deeper cuts might need stitches or special care to prevent complications. If your child is bleeding heavily from the mouth after an injury, apply pressure with a clean cloth. If bleeding doesn’t stop after 15 minutes of pressure, go to an emergency room. Otherwise, call us to determine if evaluation is needed.
Swelling, Infection, and Loose Teeth
Facial swelling near the mouth indicates infection that needs prompt treatment. Swelling that’s spreading, especially toward the jaw or neck, is particularly concerning because infection in these areas can affect breathing and spread to other parts of the body. Never wait with facial swelling. Call us immediately or go to an emergency room if we’re not available.
A baby tooth that’s slightly loose and wiggly is normal. A permanent tooth that’s been pushed out of position or loosened by trauma needs urgent evaluation to assess damage to the root and supporting structures. Call us immediately if your child’s permanent tooth has been knocked loose or pushed out of position. Early treatment can sometimes save the tooth.
How to Reach Us in an Emergency
During Regular Office Hours and After Hours
Call us immediately at our main number during regular office hours. We prioritize emergency appointments and can usually see your child the same day if they’re in pain or have been injured. Our staff will get you in quickly when you explain the emergency.
Our phone system provides instructions for reaching Dr. Matt or another emergency dentist when our office is closed. We maintain emergency coverage because we know dental problems don’t respect office hours.
Have your child’s information ready when you call: your child’s name and age, description of the problem or injury, when the injury occurred, any symptoms (pain level, swelling, fever), and whether your child has injured teeth before.
When to Go to an Emergency Room
Some situations require emergency room care instead of dental office care. Go to the ER if your child has signs of serious infection with high fever or difficulty swallowing, has facial trauma with potential jaw fracture or head injury, has difficulty breathing or mouth closure, is bleeding heavily and pressure doesn’t stop the bleeding, or has swelling that’s spreading rapidly toward the neck or airway.
Call us from the emergency room to let us know what happened. We may need to see your child for follow-up dental care after the emergency medical situation is addressed.
Dr. Matt’s Approach to Emergency Care
Dr. Matt’s military background included emergency dental care in challenging situations. He understands how to work efficiently while keeping anxious children calm during stressful emergencies. His experience means your child receives not just technical skill but also reassurance during a frightening situation.
Even in emergencies, Dr. Matt takes time to thoroughly evaluate what happened. He assesses not just the obvious injury but potential hidden damage. For tooth injuries, he takes X-rays to check the roots and supporting structures. For swelling or infection, he evaluates how far it’s spread. This thorough approach means problems are diagnosed correctly the first time, reducing the need for follow-up treatment or complications later.
An emergency visit should relieve your child’s pain, not add to it. Dr. Matt numbs thoroughly before beginning any treatment. He uses techniques that minimize discomfort. Many children are surprised to find that getting emergency treatment actually feels better than the pain they’ve been experiencing.
After treating the emergency, Dr. Matt explains what happened, what he did, and what your family needs to do going forward. He provides detailed instructions for care at home. He may prescribe antibiotics if infection is present. He schedules follow-up appointments to monitor healing and ensure no complications develop.
Preventing Dental Emergencies
Children who play contact sports should wear properly fitted mouth guards. A mouth guard protects teeth from being knocked out or broken during falls and collisions. Custom mouth guards made in our office provide better protection and comfort than over-the-counter options. Your child is more likely to actually wear a custom mouth guard because it fits properly and doesn’t interfere with breathing or speaking.
Many dental emergencies result from decay that progresses to infection. Regular checkups catch decay early before it reaches the nerve and causes pain. Fluoride treatments, sealants, and good home care prevent decay from developing.
Supervise young children during activities where they might fall and injure their mouths. Soft play areas, proper footwear, and limiting running on hard surfaces reduce injury risk. Childproof your home to reduce fall risks.
Teach your child not to chew on hard objects like ice, hard candy, pencils, or pen caps. These habits break teeth. Discourage your child from using teeth as tools to open things. Habits developed in childhood often persist into adulthood.
Know what to do if your child has a dental injury. Keep our emergency contact number readily available. Know the location of the nearest emergency room. Teach your child what to do if they lose a tooth (keep the tooth, place it in milk, call for help).
Providing Reliable Emergency Care Across South County
Families in Arnold, Oakville, Mehlville, Affton, Festus, Imperial, Herculaneum, and surrounding South County neighborhoods know they can reach Dr. Matt when their child has a dental emergency. Our location at 22 Arnold Mall is central to the South County region, minimizing travel time when minutes matter.
Dr. Matt understands South County families. He knows that you’re balancing work, school, sports, and activities. Emergencies happen when you’re least prepared. He’s committed to being available when your child needs urgent care, not just when it’s convenient.
Whether your family attends schools in the Mehlville School District, participates in Affton youth sports leagues, or lives anywhere in South County, Dr. Matt considers himself part of your family’s healthcare team. When your child is hurting, he wants to help. South County parents appreciate that Dr. Matt doesn’t treat emergency visits as inconvenient interruptions. He treats them as opportunities to help and support your family during stressful situations.
What to Expect During an Emergency Visit
When your child arrives with a dental emergency, our team quickly assesses the situation. We take X-rays if needed. Dr. Matt examines the injury or problem to understand what happened and what treatment is needed.
If your child is in pain, we address that first. Numbing medication or pain relief gets your child comfortable. This allows Dr. Matt to perform necessary treatment without your child being in distress.
Depending on the problem, treatment might include temporary or permanent restoration of a broken tooth, pulp therapy for severely decayed teeth, stabilization of a loose tooth, evaluation and monitoring of swelling or infection, soft tissue repair or treatment, or extraction if the tooth cannot be saved.
Before you leave, Dr. Matt provides clear instructions for care at home. Antibiotics are prescribed when infection is present. He schedules follow-up appointments to monitor healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Emergency Dental Care
How much will emergency dental care cost?
Emergency treatment costs vary depending on what’s needed. We discuss costs upfront whenever possible. Most dental insurance covers emergency care. If cost is a concern, we work with families to find solutions.
Will my child need antibiotics after emergency treatment?
Antibiotics are prescribed when infection is present. Not all emergencies require antibiotics. Dr. Matt determines what your child needs based on the specific situation.
What if the emergency happens in the middle of the night?
Call our emergency line. You’ll reach Dr. Matt or another dentist who can guide you through initial care at home. Some situations can wait until morning. Others need immediate emergency room care. The dentist helping you will advise you appropriately.
Can a knocked-out baby tooth be reimplanted?
Generally no. Baby teeth that are knocked out are not reimplanted because the procedure can damage the developing permanent tooth underneath. We monitor to ensure the permanent tooth develops normally.
What if my child chipped a baby tooth?
Small chips often don’t need treatment and the tooth sheds naturally. Larger chips might need smoothing or filling to prevent sharp edges. Dr. Matt assesses whether treatment is needed.
Should I go to the emergency room or call the dentist for tooth pain?
Severe tooth pain is a dental problem. Unless your child also has signs of serious infection (high fever, difficulty swallowing, severe swelling), the dentist is the right place. Call us and we’ll advise you.
Is a slightly loose permanent tooth an emergency?
A permanent tooth that’s slightly loose from trauma needs urgent evaluation. Dr. Matt assesses damage and discusses treatment options. Some loose teeth tighten back up if stabilized properly.
What should I do if my child knocked out a permanent tooth?
Find the tooth, rinse it gently, and try to place it back in the socket. If you can’t, place it in milk. Get to a dentist or emergency room immediately. The sooner the tooth is reimplanted, the better the chance of survival.
Can you treat severe infections or just dental problems?
We treat dental infections and swelling. If swelling is spreading or your child has signs of serious systemic infection, emergency room care is appropriate. We coordinate with emergency rooms when necessary.
Do you treat injuries from sports or accidents?
Yes. We treat tooth fractures, tooth displacement, and soft tissue injuries from sports and accidents. We also discuss prevention strategies to reduce future injury risk.
What’s the difference between urgent and emergency?
Emergency means your child is in severe pain, has been injured, or has signs of infection requiring immediate treatment. Urgent means the situation needs attention within 24 hours but isn’t immediately life-threatening. We help you determine which applies.
Emergency Pediatric Care You Can Count On
When your child is hurt or in pain, you need a dentist who understands the urgency and responds quickly. Dr. Matt has built his practice on being available when families need him most.
South County families know they can call us during an emergency and get prompt, compassionate care. That’s the kind of dentist Dr. Matt strives to be for every family he serves.
Don’t wait until you have an emergency to know how to reach us. Save our number in your phone now.
Pediatric Dentistry of Arnold
22 Arnold Mall Arnold, MO 63010
(314) 230-8615
When your child needs urgent dental care, we’re here to help. Call us immediately if your child has a dental emergency. For situations requiring emergency room care, go to the nearest ER and call us to coordinate follow-up care.
Emergencies are stressful for the whole family. Our goal is to relieve your child’s pain, address the problem, and give you peace of mind that your child is receiving expert care. Whether you’re in Arnold, Oakville, Mehlville, Affton, Festus, or anywhere in South County, Dr. Matt and his team are committed to being there when your family needs emergency pediatric dental care.
